Category Archives: holding

Arch Top and Flat Top

Posted on August 6, 2022 by Dave Fisher

These two walnut bowls are very much alike in all aspects of their design except for the shape of the upper surface. I split both blanks from the same log. After hewing and planing both bottom surfaces flat, I gave … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, holding, layout, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

Useful Leather Hoof Pads

Posted on May 25, 2022 by Dave Fisher

I like the idea of wearing a shop apron, but I’ve never been able to get in the habit, for a number of reasons. Some guys swear by them, and some have truly special ones. Jögge Sundqvist wears an amazing … Continue reading →

Posted in carving, holding, spoons, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Bowl from Dry Walnut

Posted on February 28, 2022 by Dave Fisher

Wood is much easier to carve when it’s green, and you can get right to work with a large blank of fresh uncracked wood straight from the tree. Then you can let the bowl dry, stress and crack free, before … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, carving, holding, patterns, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , , , | 20 Comments

The Saw Wright Sign

Posted on December 7, 2021 by Dave Fisher

In the last month or so, I tried to knock a little bit of the rust off of my letter carving. I warmed up by completing a couple smaller projects, then tackled this long sign for Matt Cianci, a guy … Continue reading →

Posted in carving, holding, Lettering, paint, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 13 Comments

Moon Spoons?

Posted on October 10, 2021 by Dave Fisher

A fellow carver directed me toward this short film documenting the traditional making of spoons from boxwood in Spain. Filmed in 1994, it features a man named Pascual Mairal who had been practicing this craft since he was a child. … Continue reading →

Posted in finding wood, green woodworking, historical reference, holding, spoons, Uncategorized | 12 Comments

When Life Hands You Hickory

Posted on September 10, 2021 by Dave Fisher

Along with some walnut logs I was collecting a couple weeks ago, there was a bonus hickory log. When I split it, it was clear and straight. The new edition of Make a Chair From a Tree by Jennie Alexander … Continue reading →

Posted in chairs, green woodworking, holding, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Small Side Panel Cherry Bowl

Posted on June 17, 2021 by Dave Fisher

A few days ago I finished this cherry bowl for a local fundraiser. It features a relatively narrow side panel below the edge of the rim that makes an ideal spot for some chip carving. I took a few shots … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, carving, cherry, finding wood, holding, layout, patterns, sketch, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 25 Comments

Gouge Versatility

Posted on March 14, 2021 by Dave Fisher

Early one April morning when we were twelve, my buddy, Scott, and I met on the bank of the Little Shenango River, excited to use our shiny new spinners on the first day of trout season. Our reels were full … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, holding, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Shop Tip with Chip

Posted on August 29, 2020 by Dave Fisher

I am savoring some restorative carving time this weekend, but just wanted to take a moment to share this stumbled-upon shop tip. I’ve been using this simple elm bench for various things for years.  I had never permanently affixed the … Continue reading →

Posted in holding, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 11 Comments

Dealing with Interlocked Grain

Posted on August 18, 2020 by Dave Fisher

Trees do funny things.  This cherry was taken down a few months ago in a friend’s yard.  This section has a 4 1/2″ radius and 55 growth rings.  We tend to think of the fibers going straight up the trunk … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, cherry, figure, finding wood, green woodworking, holding, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments